Happy New Year! We are grateful to all of the adopters of our dogs in 2018 and hoping for many more happily-ever-after stories in 2019.

I’m going to start off the new year with an unusual post. Every so often, the shelter receives not just one family dog, but two, and sometimes they are a bonded pair.

What is a bonded pair?

According to Naomi Millburn (https://www.cuteness.com/blog/content/what-are-bonded-pair-dogs): “In the world of canine adoption, the term “bonded pair” indicates a duo of dogs that for whatever reason are strongly attached and need be adopted into the same home together. Separating a bonded pair is liable to lead to anxiety issues in one dog or both. When a pair of dogs this strongly connected is allowed to live together, the chances of them thriving and achieving happiness in a ‘forever home’ setting may be exponentially higher. Dogs that are bonded often depend on one another to handle new and uncertain situations. They can rely on each other as well for comfort in frightening circumstances — think the drive from the adoption shelter to a new home, a trip to the veterinarian’s office, or a thunderstorm. When around other pets, they can rely on each other to help out with social and interactive behavioral hints. Lastly, being together all of the time can provide nonstop entertainment — a constant playtime companion of sorts.”

While it is not unusual for WHS to have a bonded pair occasionally, at the moment we have three bonded pairs and I’ve decided to devote this post to them in the hope that they will soon find their new homes together.

This is our second time at WHS. We’re hoping that THIS time we’ll find our forever families!

SaffronandPepper are six-year-old Chihuahua mixes who originally came to WHS in November of 2015 as part of an ASPCA transfer. Here they were shortly after they arrived, with Caroline.

They have been well-loved, but the family is moving and cannot take the dogs with them. They are now a little gray, but still just as full of life.

On Sunday we spent some quality time with them in Mary’s Place. Their former owners report that the two are very friendly with everyone, including strangers, and have a good history with children. They do have a fondness for adventure and will look for weak spots in fencing, so will need a secure yard. They don’t care for cats and really just want to be with each other, not with other dogs. And if you are looking for lap buddies, look no further, as Marianne and Megan found out.

We’re hoping these BFFs will be going home soon.

Bonded pairs come in all sizes and ages and the longer they are together, the more bonded they become. It takes a special person to adopt a senior dog. It takes a REALLY special person to adopt TWO senior dogs—and we have two senior-dog bonded pairs. But oh, the rewards…

Many prospective adopters who come to the shelter looking for their new best friend quickly pass by any older dog for many reasons. But in an article appearing in Healthy Pet magazine, Amy Gonzalez discusses four reasons why you should adopt a senior (or two!). Here are the highlights:

“1. A senior dog has probably already been trained. It’s also a good bet that an older dog has been house-trained.

2. Most senior pets like to take it easy. Just like people, dogs tend to mellow out in their older years. They’re usually less rambunctious than puppies and less likely to destroy things around the house.

3. What you see is typically what you get. When you meet your potential dog, you have the benefit of knowing what you’re getting in size and personality.

4. Older pets can bond with you. You don’t have to share your life with a dog from puppyhood to become the best of friends.”

We are looking for a restful retirement forever home.

Spud and Ralph are eleven years old and have been best friends forever. Spud is the more active one, and Ralph watches whatever she does.

Both dogs have old-dog aging issues with achy joints and needing to go out more often than a younger dog. They both are a bit hard of hearing, Ralph especially, and he may be blind in his right eye. We took them into Mary’s Place on Sunday just to hang out on a pile of blankets. Both dogs enjoyed our time together. They will certainly be easy to have around, as what they like to do most is relax. Here are some shots from our afternoon.

Finally, it was time to go back to their kennel.

We’re hoping the new year will find these sweet old souls their final home.

We’ve been here before, but we’re back, also hoping for a forever retirement home.

Jersey and Gizmo are twelve-year-old Chihuahuas. They first arrived at WHS in October. They were adopted in November, but came back to us a few days ago.

These boys are a bit shy and can be nervous in new situations and around new people. Their previous owner reports that they have a good history with cats, other dogs, and children. Because of their age, slightly older kids would be best for these two. They have been in our playgroups and prefer quiet canine friends with whom they can mingle. They are not rowdy players. Here they are with volunteers Diane and Gail.

We didn’t have time to take them to Mary’s Place on Sunday, but I did stop to give them some cheese bits.

We’re hoping that these two buds will soon find their new peeps and go home.

There are several newbies at the shelter. Here are a few along with a couple who have been waiting for a while.

Joey is a five-year-old mixed breed boy who is a shelter favorite. Here he is with Megan.

Lucy is a newbie, an eight-year-old Chihuahua mix, who has Marianne wrapped around her paw.

Cleo is a five-year-old Miniature Dachshund mix, here with Caroline on Sunday.

This is goofy Joe, a five-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier mix, here making Linda laugh.

So that’s it for this first week of 2019!

Remember, if you see a dog on my blog whom you are interested in meeting, try to make arrangements to get to the Willamette Humane Society soon. Some dogs are adopted more quickly than you might think.